Washington, DC –– The Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) today announced the three nominees for the association's highest honor, the Golden Beacon Award. Nominees are:

A Thin Line, MTV

Connect a Million Minds, Time Warner Cable

Characters Unite, USA Network

"For more than 25 years, the cable industry has been committed to improving the quality of life in the communities it serves locally, nationally and globally," said Sandy Colony, 2011 Beacon Awards chair and senior advisor, employee communications, Insight Communications. "Over the past year, three industry undertakings - MTV's A Thin Line, Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds and USA Network's Characters Unite - exemplify the best of these efforts. Addressing issues that are timely and significant, each one has a powerful message for youth; MTV warns of the dangers of digital abuse and how individuals can help fight against it; Time Warner Cable is working to ensure that the next generation of Americans have the science, technology, engineering and math skills needed to secure the nation's future; and USA takes on combating prejudice and discrimination."

ACC's Golden Beacon Award recognizes a communications and public affairs initiative that has made an impact within the cable industry, while enhancing cable's image nationwide. The 2010 Golden Beacon Award recognized C-SPAN for its Video Library.

ACC members who judged the Beacon Awards nominated MTV for its pro-social initiative A Thin Line, the network's pioneering campaign that empowers America's youth to identify, respond to, and stop the spread of digital abuse, which includes all forms of digital bullying, dating abuse and discrimination. MTV has built a coalition of the foremost authorities on these topics and is engaging its audience through thought-provoking PSAs, integration into MTV's top-rated shows, an original film, innovative online and mobile tools, curricula, and more. The campaign has reached tens of millions on-air and mobilized over 1,000,000 young people to take action and stop the spread of digital abuse. The campaign's hub is its Web site, www.athinline.org, which houses a variety of resources, quizzes and applications purpose-built to raise awareness and address digital abuse's viral spread. The site integrates seamlessly with the campaign's social media presence and mobile devices.

Two years ago, Time Warner Cable re-focused its philanthropic efforts around science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The result was Connect a Million Minds (CAMM), a five-year, $100 million cash and in-kind effort to engage Time Warner Cable customers, employees and nonprofit partners to address a critical community need - ensuring that today's youth gain the STEM skills they need to become tomorrow's problem solvers. CAMM includes national and local partnerships supporting relevant programs, an interactive Web site where customers connect youth and share experiences, and proprietary interactive STEM curricula which leverage the skills of Time Warner Cable to engage kids in STEM. To date, consumers have pledged to connect more than 400,000 youth to STEM opportunities.

Characters Unite is USA Network's public service campaign dedicated to addressing the social injustices that pervade and divide our society. Inspired by USA's iconic Characters Welcome brand, and in partnership with leading nonprofit organizations, it is a multiplatform initiative - on-air, online and in communities across the country - that uses engaging messages and activities to combat hate, prejudice, and discrimination. In the last year, USA launched Characters Unite Month, a period when the network shines a special spotlight on efforts to promote tolerance and acceptance. The campaign included an original-themed documentary, "Tom Brokaw Presents Bridging the Divide"; a new PSA series; extensive digital content; the Characters Unite Awards to recognize local community heroes; and a national tour in cities and high schools to use the power of storytelling to foster greater understanding and respect.

ACC will honor the Golden Beacon Award nominees and announce the winner during the Beacon Awards Luncheon and Ceremony on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at the Hilton New York. The ceremony is the concluding event of ACC's annual conference, FORUM 2011: Communicating Cable's Future. FORUM is the cable industry's only annual educational event dedicated to the issues facing communications and public affairs professionals.

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The Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) is the only national, professional organization specifically addressing the issues, needs and interests of the cable industry’s communications and public affairs professionals. Its mission is to develop and promote cable communications excellence through professional development to help achieve industry and corporate goals. ACC works to enhance each member’s status and influence through skill building and professional development. For more information on ACC, go to http://www.cablecommunicators.org./